Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk to sit on ‘climate fast’ at -40°C

Sonam Wangchuk is planning to embark on a five-day “climate fast” from January 26 at 18000 feet at Khardungla Pass where the temperature is -40 degree Celsius.

From a military point of view, Ladakh is essential and has played a role in Kargil and other conflicts. Wangchuk expresses concern about the prospect of corporate expansion in the union territory, which is expected to exacerbate an already acute shortage of resources such as water. Glaciers may melt due to mining and other comparable activities.

In the clip, he can be heard explaining that Ladakh, also known as the “Third Pole” of the Earth, is dealing with serious issues as he mentions the 6th Schedule and the protests related to it. The local people have been demanding inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule to promote overall economic development and decision-making autonomy. This topic has already been brought up in Parliament.

The Constitution requires 50% of the population of an area to be tribal in order to implement the Sixth Schedule. Ladakh, which has over 95% of its population as tribals, was expected to be added soon, Wangchuk says in the clip. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda has also given the assurance, says Wangchuk.

In the 13-minute video, Wangchuk says that the people of Ladakh are wondering why the government, which has been listening to their 70-year-old demand for a union territory, is not paying attention to this demand.

Wangchuk previously said that solving issues such as climate change required people to adjust their lifestyles rather than contributing wealth to the world. In December, he used recent events, such as flash floods in the mountainous region of the north, to demonstrate the effects of climate change, saying that individuals in major cities around the world are responsible for these changes.